Los Angeles, Nov 15: Arnold Schwarzenegger has been formally declared the winner of the October 7 special election replacing California's Governor, just three days before his swearing-in. The most populous US state's chief electoral official made the declaration yesterday as the former body-building champion and movie star prepared to take office after a low-key inauguration on Monday.
"I know that it will come as no surprise to any of you that the recall is certified as successful and that Arnold Schwarzenegger is now officially certified as our next Governor," Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said.
Californians voted 4,976,193 to 4,007,753 to sack Democratic Governor Gray Davis, blamed by many for the richest US state's crushing financial woes, Shelley said.
Then, in the second part of the ballot, voters chose Schwarzenegger to succeed davis by 4,206,217 votes to 2,724,852 for his closest rival, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, who retains his post under.
The official certification of the rare recall election - the first to succeed against a us governor in 82 years - was necessary to allow Schwarzenegger's swearing-in in the state capital Sacramento on Monday.
The former action star is foregoing the gala glitz that usually comes with a gubernatorial inauguration, opting instead to simply host a lunch for legislators under the Capitol's imposing rotunda after his swearing-in by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. Bureau Report